Aug 9, 2012

The BNDES approved R$ 131 million in financing to renovate and expand the Joaquim Américo Guimarães Stadium, also known as the Baixada Arena in Curitiba. The funds, which will be allocated to the state of Paraná, correspond to 73% of the total investment in the project, which will adapt equipment to criteria established by FIFA to host World Cup games in 2014.

This is the tenth operation approved by the BNDES ProCopa Arenas program, which finances the construction or renovation of stadiums participating in the 2014 World Cup. Financing has already been approved for Curitiba, and the arenas in Belo Horizonte (R$ 400 million), Cuiabá (R$ 393 million), Fortaleza (R$ 351.5 million), Manaus (R$ 400 million), Natal (R$ 396.5 million), Salvador (R$ 323.7 million), São Paulo (R$400 million), Recife (R$ 400 million) and Rio de Janeiro (R$ 400 million).

In the case of Paraná, resources will make it feasible not only to increase the public capacity of the stadium, which will go from 28,000 to 41,000 seats, but also to implement a new metalic roof and increase of the width of the circulation area, according to the Study on Crowd Flows. The project includes renovation and expansion of private boxes and a VIP area, implementation of a building for parking, a press center, construction of commercial, service and infrastructure areas.

The front of the arena, in its turn, will be fully reformed so as to integrate with the adjacent urban areas. Sustainable technologies will be used, such as low power consumption air-conditioning system and lighting, and a rainwater tank will be built under the bleachers for reuse of the stadium water consumption and irrigation of the grass field.

Works began in October 2011 and completion is expected within 23 months. The Arena is scheduled for operation in September 2013. In the implementation phase, approximately 850 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs will be generated. Later, during the operation stage, the estimate is 300 direct jobs and 800 indirect jobs.